1 soldier killed, 2 others hurt in ambush

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – One soldier died while two others were wounded after suspected members of the New People’s Army ambushed them at Sitio Calingatnan, Barangay San Pedro in Albuera, Leyte on Saturday.

The fatality was identified as Private First Class (PFC) Richard Abanes, 25 years old.

The two wounded soldiers were PFC Jay Baysa and PFC Frederick Mar.

Investigations revealed that the 78th Infantry Battalion visited Sitio Calingatnan to hear out problems being experienced by the residents.

The 16 soldiers of the 78th Infantry Battalion were already on their way back to the camp when they were intercepted by 10 armed men.

Despite what happened, the Philippine Army is confident that the incident will not lower the morale of the soldiers.

It was in December 2011 when the military declared Leyte as a "manageable conflict-affected and development-ready" province. – from a report by Sharon Evite-Carangue, ABS-CBN News Leyte